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Science 26 October 1979:
Vol. 206. no. 4417, pp. 452 - 454
DOI: 10.1126/science.206.4417.452
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Articles

Salinity Gradient Power: Utilizing Vapor Pressure Differences

MARK OLSSON 1, GERALD L. WICK 2, and JOHN D. ISAACS 3

1 Institute of Marine Resources, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla 92093, and Foundation for Ocean Research, San Diego 92121
2 Institute for Transcultural Studies, Los Angeles, California 90006
3 Institute of Marine Resources, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and Foundation for Ocean Research

By utilizing the vapor pressure difference between high-salinity and lowsalinity wvater, one can obtain power from the gradients of salinity. This scheme eliminates the major problems associated with conversion methods in which membranes are used. The method we tested gave higher conversion efficiencies than membrane methods. Furthermore, hardware and techniques being developed for ocean thermal energy conversion may be applied to this approach to salinity gradient energy conversion.

Submitted on March 27, 1979
Revised on June 4, 1979


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Ocean Energy: Forms and Prospects.
J. D. Isaacs, J. D. Isaacs, and W. R. Schmitt (1980)
Science 207, 265-273
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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)